Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had 2 auratus dart frogs for several months now. They have been living together without incident since I got them and really was not sure that sex they were. (Was pretty sure one was a male but the other I could not tell).

Yesterday I went to feed them and noticed that the one I knew was a male has the right side of his face flattened in. Upon closer examination I notice that his eye was crushed in and his upper jaw bone was crushed partially.

I separated him and cleaned up the area. It appeared that the had been bitten and damaged by the other frog. Are dart frogs able to inflict that sort of damage if they suddenly decide to battle for territory? I can't possible see what else this could have been. There is nothing in the terrarium that could have fallen on him to crush in the side of his face.

In any event he was dead this morning. The damage was such that even he did survive I seriously doubt he would have been able to catch food.

Steve

That's truly unusual. Darts don't bite, and I can't imagine how one could inflict this type of damage on another without it being an accidental fall from a high place, or some bizarre accident. Even then, they would land on their feet. Are you sure nothing came loose and landed on this frog, or it wasn't inadvertently caught and crushed when the lid was closed? No one else mishandled this frog? In any event, I don't think the other frog was guilty of doing this damage. I hope someone else has some ideas.

Don't be discouraged by this loss. It is just not something that is a normal cause for loss.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

i don't believe it was another frog either. sounds like there was an accident in your setup. sounds like the damage was done from the top, something fell on him? maybe the other frog did a big leap and landed on him. don't think it would have enough force to jump up and do that damage to itself. males already seem small and frail to start with.

I am honestly at a loss for what else it could have been. There is no one else that could have possibly handled the animal, no high places for it to jump from and nothing for it have gotten crushed. I did think it strange too as it does not seem possible that such a little creature that seems to struggle eating anything larger than a pinhead cricket would inflict such damage.

The only other possibility may have been that when I took out their little water dish that the coco hut sits on top of to clean it and freshen the water he was buried under the dish area and I put it down on top of him. Frankly - don't even see that as a possibility though as I am NEUROTIC and really look over the are before I put any dishes back inside any of my enclosures. It's really strange.

Thank you though for your input. At least I know that it is hardly likely that I have a killer frog on my hands and can go about the business of getting him a little mate.

I have took a few photos of him I'll try to post them here to give everyone an idea of what happened.

Steve

A photo might indeed help, and would be interesting to see.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus